Arroyo 'working those kinks out'

Facing the Red Sox on Thursday, it was a subpar night for Bronson Arroyo. In five innings, Arroyo gave up four earned runs and three hits, including two home runs. He also had four walks and four strikeouts.

Both homers, two-run shots by Jed Lowrie and Chris Carter, came in the third inning immediately after Arroyo walked a batter. He was trailing, 4-1, when he came out of the game.

“That’s what killed me. Quit giving them free bases, quit giving them two-run homers,” Arroyo said. “After the second inning, I was missing a little bit with my fastball, especially the sinker. I kept missing down, down, down. I got behind in counts and it got me into trouble. Next time, I will try to dial that in a little better.”

Arroyo had 1-2-3 second and fourth innings. Through four starts, totaling 15 innings, he has a 6.00 ERA with 12 hits, 10 runs and seven walks allowed and 10 strikeouts. Asked if he was comfortable with his spring to this point, Arroyo said he was.

“Any way you cut it – unless you’re a young guy trying to make the club, unbelievable numbers aren’t helping you and getting killed is really helping either,” Arroyo said. “I’m kind of in the middle of the road. I feel solid. I feel like the ball was jumping out of my hand pretty good tonight. I threw the ball by some guys. The breaking ball was pretty good. I got a little out of sync in the third and fourth innings. I didn’t feel comfortable throwing the fastball. That’s what we’re here for – to try and work those kinks out.”

Whatever kinks Arroyo has, closer Francisco Cordero clearly has more. It was another rough performance for Cordero, who gave up four earned runs, four hits and two walks in the top of the eighth. Nick Green hit a long RBI double to the center field wall and later a Minor Leaguer named Ryan Kalish smoked a three-run triple to the left-center field gap.

Cordero was coming off of two-straight scoreless outings but he wasn’t fooling any of Boston’s hitters tonight. Now that “it’s early in spring” no longer applies, maybe it’s time for some concern to set in.

Over his six games, totaling six innings, Cordero has an 18.00 ERA with 17 hits, 12 earned runs and four walks allowed.

Two more roster cuts came after the 9-1 loss. RHP Carlos Fisher and catcher Craig Tatum were optioned to Triple-A Louisville. There are now 42 players left in camp.

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